McCain, wife Cindy, and Joe Lieberman visited the Basilica of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Thursday.

MEXICO CITY (CNN) - News conferences, like baseball games, can sometimes be plagued by rain delays. Just ask John McCain.

The Republican presidential candidate had to stop a session with reporters in Mexico City Thursday afternoon as heavy rain fell at the Ixtapalapa police station. McCain made faces as joked about the weather during the interruption. Reporters then had to gather at the edge of the podium at McCain's feet to hear as his words competed with rain echoing off the metal roof.

Asked if this was the oddest news conference he ever held, McCain said "Certainly the most unusual." He joked that the rain was a result of his visit to the Basilica of the Our Lady of Guadalupe earlier on the day, and he had noted earlier rain is good luck in his home state of Arizona.

Rain issues resolved, McCain discussed the shake-up at the top of his presidential campaign. He called the moves "a natural evolution of our campaign as we become more and more of a nationwide campaign, with increased staff and increased responsibilities."

The Arizona senator called his three-day Latin American swing an excellent visit, saying he is encouraged by U.S. relations with Colombia and Mexico as he was relations with Canada during his visit to that nation last month.

McCain returns to the United States Thursday night, and spends the holiday weekend with his family at their ranch in Sedona, Arizona.

soundoff(61 Responses)

RJB

Why don't they just keep him there with Joe L

July 3, 2008 07:54 pm at 7:54 pm |

ripped off democrat

How anyone can vote for someone who learned their morals by going to Rev. Wright's racist and hate-filled church is beyond me. Too bad the DNC stole the nomination for Barack. I can't vote for a racist.

McCain '08! or Hillary '08!!! NO RACISTS = OBAMA

July 3, 2008 07:54 pm at 7:54 pm |

Redneck from Kentucky

I wouldn't stand in front of a stage even on a beautiful day to listen to John McCain. I certainly wouldn't stand in the rain to hear one of his boring speeches. I would think he would be in the USA the week leading up to the 4th of July. I guess Mexico and Colombia are the only places where he could get an audience.

July 3, 2008 07:56 pm at 7:56 pm |

RJ, CA

Loved the bumper sticker I saw yesterday:

ANNOY THE LIBERALS
Work - Succeed - Be Happy!

July 3, 2008 07:58 pm at 7:58 pm |

Lexa

It seems that the general election is a 'mere' 4 months away – to say that anyone is a clear winner at this point is ludicrous. McCain has his opinions – longer war presence in Iraq, Bush-like economic package, and a reputation as someone who works both sides of the House. Obama has his opinions - better health care for Americans, shorter American presence in Iraq, an economic plan to pull the country up by its bootstraps, and a plan to improve diplomatic relations between the US, and the rest of the world. It will be fun to see how it plays out, rain or shine – I'll bet rainy election days are not good luck in AZ!!

July 3, 2008 07:59 pm at 7:59 pm |

Danel

That's fine with me New Yorker as long as you're the one in the front lines in Iraq.

July 3, 2008 08:39 pm at 8:39 pm |

Connie

I am sure that Canada,Mexico and Columbia are all breaking ground for the buildings they are going to need when they get the new jobs MCBush promised them.Free trade is they get are jobs free , they trade us there people who can not survive on the low wages they get in those countries.People had better wake up Obama is our only hope.Just say NO to John McBush. Barack Hussein Obama 08

Connie "Hussein" Sturgeon

July 3, 2008 08:41 pm at 8:41 pm |

Farrell, Houston, Tx

I wish my retirement home was in the White House instead of Shady Pines. Boy, you have to give it to McCain, he thinks big about his plans for retirement while a lot of seniors think about what's for dinner or is it time for bed, or trying to remember if they've had dinner. God Bless America.

July 3, 2008 08:44 pm at 8:44 pm |

Gene

Is McCain planning to be back in the US on the most Patriotic of holidays?

I mean... I could care less really... I don't believe that not being here on the 4th makes you unpatriotic... but that fact that McCain beats down Obama about the most insignificant symbols like Flag Pins, trying to describe him as being unpatriotic... him not even being in the country during our independence day would be a far less trivial symbol of patriotism.

But then again... he'll probably be back tomorrow.. I'm only asking the question.. I don't know if he's coming back.

July 3, 2008 08:50 pm at 8:50 pm |

christine

i think the media and mccain took obama's words wrong when said refine his iraq policy refine means remove unwanted substance, or improve something, what if he was saying he is going to remove our troops after he visits iraq, i think if they is progress on the ground why should we keep our troops there instead of payingattention to afganistan these reporters have to be very careful if they dont understand some of the words they should look them up in the dictionary, this is what led us to go to war, just running and printing things that the republicans or what the compaigns tell them that why we are in this iraq mess, and now we are paying for it at the pump, because they were sold on this iraq war instead of doing there jobs asking questions, but no they quickly run with the wrong thing and make it a big thing especially washington post, huffington post, msnbc they are no longer good smart journalist anymore america please work up

July 3, 2008 08:55 pm at 8:55 pm |

POINTING FINGERS!!

New York.......Vote for McCain, stay in Iraq and beat back the Islamist radicals, stop Obama the ultra-liberal who will cave to terrorists for lack of understanding of the reality of what's at stake. A vote for Obama is sheer ignorance or lunacy..........You are an IDIOT